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LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. (September 1, 2026) - Neal Communities has once again been recognized as one of the region’s premier employers, earning the number three ranking among large companies in the Sarasota-Manatee Top Workplaces 2026 awards.

The recognition marks Neal Communities’ eighth consecutive year of workplace honors, following three years as a Best Places to Work honoree from 2019 - 2021 and five consecutive Top Workplaces recognitions from 2022 - 2026.

What makes the distinction particularly meaningful is that it is driven entirely by employee feedback, according to Tashara Carmichael, Chief Human Resources Officer for Neal Communities.

“Eight consecutive years of recognition tells a much bigger story than any single award,” says Carmichael. “It reflects the kind of workplace our team members experience year after year; one built on trust, meaningful work, strong leadership and a shared commitment to one another and the communities we serve. Culture is not something you declare; it is something employees experience. Having our people continue to affirm that experience is an extraordinary point of pride for Neal Communities.”

The Sarasota Herald-Tribune partners with employee engagement firm Energage to identify the region’s Top Workplaces. The awards are based on confidential employee survey feedback that measures key aspects of the workplace experience, including leadership, direction, appreciation, meaningful work, compensation, and benefits.

Only organizations meeting Energage’s benchmark standards earn Top Workplaces recognition, making the award a direct reflection of employee sentiment and organizational culture.

“For Neal Communities, the recognition continues a longstanding pledge to building not only exceptional homes and communities, but an organization where people can do meaningful work, grow their careers and make an impact,” Carmichael adds.

^{More Than $20,000 in Scholarships, Laptops Available for Manatee County Seniors}

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. (August 6, 2026) - Neal Communities, Southwest Florida’s premier private homebuilder, today announced the launch of its inaugural “Where You Live Matters” Essay Contest, inviting Manatee County high school seniors to share personal stories about the lessons they’ve learned growing up in their hometown.

The contest, themed “Lessons from My Hometown,” will award more than $20,000 in scholarships, laptops and educator recognition awards while celebrating the unique experiences, values and perspectives of local students.

“At Neal Communities, we believe where you live helps shape who you become,” says Pat Neal, founder and chairman of Neal Communities. “Manatee County is a special place to live, filled with inspiring people, traditions, opportunities and challenges. We are excited to hear directly from students about the lessons they have learned from their hometown and how those experiences have influenced their future aspirations.”

The contest is open to all Manatee County high school seniors scheduled to graduate in 2027 and recognized by the Manatee County School District.

Students are asked to submit an original essay between 750 and 1,000 words reflecting on the theme “Lessons from My Hometown.”

“Manatee County is more than a place on a map,” says Ivory Matthews, vice president of community and governmental affairs at Neal Communities. “It is a community shaped by its people, history, growth and evolution. Through their essays, students are encouraged to explore meaningful lessons learned from their neighborhoods, schools, families, local traditions, natural surroundings or the changing character of the community.”

Essays may focus on themes such as opportunity, resilience, responsibility, community, change or belonging, while demonstrating how growing up in Manatee County has influenced the student’s values, perspective, goals or vision for the future.

“There is no single right story,” adds Matthews. “We’re looking for thoughtful, authentic and reflective essays that reveal how a hometown experience helped shape a young person’s journey.”

Neal Communities will award more than $20,000 in scholarships and prizes. The top 10 essay writers will receive new laptop computers, while first place will also receive a $5,000 scholarship, second place a $2,500 scholarship and third place a $1,000 scholarship.

In addition, during the submission process, students will be asked to identify the teacher who had the greatest impact on their high school success. The top three teachers will each receive a $1,000 award in recognition of their contributions to student achievement.

Essays must be between 750 and 1,000 words and represent the student’s original work. Only the first 1,000 eligible submissions received will be accepted. Any use of plagiarism or AI-generated content will result in immediate disqualification. The submission deadline is October 2 and full details on submission requirements are available at www.nealcommunities.com/EssayContest.

Essays will be evaluated by a panel of volunteer readers and community judges using a comprehensive scoring rubric. Greater weight will be placed on creativity and originality as well as personal reflection and connection to the theme.

Once a distinguished judging panel selects the top 10 finalists, those students will be invited to a special awards event with their families. Scholarship winners will be announced live, and the first-place recipient will have the opportunity to read their essay to the audience. The awards event will take place on December 16 at the Mote Science and Education Aquarium, beginning at 6 p.m.

“Every hometown teaches us something,” says Matthews. “Whether it’s resilience learned after a storm, kindness discovered through community traditions, or ambition inspired by opportunity, we look forward to celebrating the stories that make Manatee County special.”

For more information and official contest details, visit www.nealcommunities.com/EssayContest.

^{The 27th annual BIG Backpack Event provided 3,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to area families with children ages 5 to 12.}

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. (August 12, 2026) - The region’s largest private homebuilder, Neal Communities, and its trade partners raised a record amount of more than $40,000 as the presenting sponsor of the recent 27th Annual BIG Backpack Event.

Hosted by the Multicultural Centre of Southwest Florida, the annual BIG Backpack Event provided 3,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to area families with children ages 5 to 12. More than 200 volunteers, including Neal Communities’ employees and trade partners, assisted with packing supplies and distribution at the event, which took place in a drive-thru at the Fort Myers Skatium. In its 27 years, the event has donated more than 50,000 backpacks. This year, families were also given a bag of food as the event partnered with the Community Cooperative Food Bank in Fort Myers.

“Neal Communities is proud to support this community event along with our employee volunteers and trade partners,” says Tim Oak, south region president of Neal Communities. “It’s great to begin the school year with an event that helps so many local families with important school supplies, allowing kids to hit the ground running on their first day of school.”

This was the 11^th consecutive year that Neal Communities was the presenting sponsor of the BIG Backpack Event, and this year’s donation was the largest to date collected by the homebuilder. With a core belief that “Where You Live Matters,” Neal Communities has given more than $8 million to local charities throughout Southwest Florida and is committed to the communities where they live, work and build.

The BIG Backpack Event provides children with new backpacks filled with pencils, pens, paper, crayons, folders and other essential back-to-school items as well as coupons and other giveaways.

For more information about the Multicultural Centre of Southwest Florida, visit www.Multicultural-Centre.org. For more information about Neal Communities, visit www.NealCommunities.com.

LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla., July 27, 2026 - Neal Communities reported another strong month in June, with 76 new home sales across the region, exceeding its monthly goal of 64 homes by 19 percent. Within those numbers, the company’s North Division stood out with 59 sales on a goal of 44, exceeding plan by 34 percent. 

One of the hottest Neal communities for the month was Windward in Sarasota County, which had 12 sales on a goal of six, exceeding its plan by 100 percent.

“June continued the positive sales momentum we’ve seen develop throughout the year, with strong performance across the company and exceptional demand at Windward at Lakewood Ranch,” says Blake Lindsey, vice president of sales for Neal Communities.

“Windward’s performance reflects the continued appeal of thoughtfully planned communities in premier locations. Buyers continue to recognize the value of well-designed homes, desirable amenities, and the lifestyle offered within Lakewood Ranch.”

That growth tracks with home purchases across the region, according to the Realtor Association of Sarasota and Manatee (RASM). Citing year-over-year sales growth in June 2026, the RASM reported a 15.2 percent increase in single-family home sales in Sarasota County and a 26.2 percent increase in Manatee.

“While today’s buyers remain more deliberate in their decision-making process, they continue to move forward when they find the right combination of quality, value, and builder confidence,” Lindsey adds. “Our June results demonstrate that demand remains healthy for builders who consistently deliver an exceptional customer experience.”

Lindsey says buyers are placing significant value on the benefits of purchasing a new home, including innovative floor plans, energy-efficient construction, comprehensive builder warranties, and the peace of mind that comes with a professionally built new home.

“We’re encouraged by the momentum we’ve built heading into the second half of the year and remain focused on delivering outstanding homes and communities that continue to earn the trust of homebuyers throughout,” he says.